I'm Getting Serious On Orthodoxy... Help

[WickedServant]

My home church is the Vineyard, in Langley BC. I've been a visitor to St. Herman's of Alaska for 6 years, and I am going to become a Catechuman this year. I know, I know, Vineyarder--->Orthodox seems quite a contrast. :scratch:

Nevertheless, after exhaustive research on the history of the Church, what I have learned via Father Lawrence Farley, Father Justin, and members of Orthodox churches in Langley and Victoria, and the Doctrine and Tradition of the Church, I am determined to enter the doors (the doors!) a member by the beginning of the Christmas fast. I need to choose a Saint (don't I?) and learn more than what I know; I need to know the essentials of Orthodoxy.

At this time I am in northern Canada, with little personal access to those that would be able to teach me at home. Please help my need... :prayer:

Bless me

[Marjorie]

WickedServant,

Welcome! :hug:

I'm not quite sure exactly what you are asking... considering that you have been investigating Orthodoxy for 6 years it would be rather presumptuous of me to teach *you* the essentials of Orthodoxy!

So perhaps you could clarify?

And if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

In IC XC,
Marjorie

P.S. Out of curiosity are you also considering becoming Catholic? I mean because of your post on OBOB.

[Monica, child of God]

Hello!

You may be beyond this article (http://kickmonkey.blogspot.com/2004/09/o-lord-establish-this-vineyard.html) but I thought I'd post it anyway.

Welcome to TAW!

Monica

[WickedServant]

WickedServant, Welcome! :hug:

Thanx! ;)

I'm not quite sure exactly what you are asking... considering that you have been investigating Orthodoxy for 6 years it would be rather presumptuous of me to teach *you* the essentials of Orthodoxy!

Well, 6 years visiting... I only got REALLY motivated on investigating a year or two ago.

So perhaps you could clarify?

I'm well versed on history, but need much help in the Holy Tradition and Doctrine...

And if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

When is the Kiss of Peace exchanged? Is it right, left, right? What is the proper meaning of Theotokos, is it 'Mother of God' or 'Birth Giver of God', or something else? Why does a single Orthodox church (parish?) sometimes fall into the jurisdiction of more than one Bishop? (seems like cutting someone else's grass) Does that only happen in North America?

P.S. Out of curiosity are you also considering becoming Catholic? I mean because of your post on OBOB.

No, I am just trying to learn more...

Bless me

[Marjorie]

The kiss of peace is exchanged after the priest says "Let us love one another, that with one mind we may confess"... right before the Creed is recited. In the original Church everyone greeted each other with a kiss; this fell out of use after a while and by the time of St. Maximos the Confessor (the seventh century) it had become customary for the clergy alone to do this. However this practice differs from place to place and in many American parishes the entire congregation will exchange the kiss of peace as in the original practice. As for "right left right"... depends on the custom... probably differs within different ethnic groups.

Theotokos actually means "Birthgiver of God." Meter Theou is the Greek term for "Mother of God," and on icons of the Theotokos you will see letters that look like MP OV around her that are the Greek letters (in abbreviation) for Meter Theou. Theotokos was a theological term which was specifically approved at the Council of Ephesus in the fourth century, in order to counter the Nestorian heretics who separated Christ into two persons, so that Mary only gave birth to the human person of Christ, not his divine person. Theotokos, "the one who gave birth to the one who is God" in reference to Mary shows that Christ was both human and divine-- united in one person, of whom Mary was the mother.

I've never heard of a parish having more than one jurisdiction but maybe someone else can answer that question... I'm guessing it is part of the jurisdictional mess that America is in right now.

Hope this helps!

For information on Orthodoxy, I compiled a list of links on Orthodoxy in my livejournal userinfo, which can be found here: http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=daphneisgood

For books on Orthodox doctrine, The Orthodox Way by Bp. Kallistos Ware and For the Life of the World by Fr. Alexander Schmemann are good.

There is a link given in my userinfo to "The Orthodox Faith"-- this is a series of books by Fr. Thomas Hopko written for beginners. They can be read online and I think you'd find them helpful.

In IC XC,
Marjorie

In IC XC,
Marjorie

[katherine2001]

My home church is the Vineyard, in Langley BC. I've been a visitor to St. Herman's of Alaska for 6 years, and I am going to become a Catechuman this year. I know, I know, Vineyarder--->Orthodox seems quite a contrast. :scratch:

Nevertheless, after exhaustive research on the history of the Church, what I have learned via Father Lawrence Farley, Father Justin, and members of Orthodox churches in Langley and Victoria, and the Doctrine and Tradition of the Church, I am determined to enter the doors (the doors!) a member by the beginning of the Christmas fast. I need to choose a Saint (don't I?) and learn more than what I know; I need to know the essentials of Orthodoxy.

At this time I am in northern Canada, with little personal access to those that would be able to teach me at home. Please help my need... :prayer:

Bless me

My priest was in the Vineyard church in San Jose, California. The whole church converted to Orthodoxy after the pastor found the Orthodox church. What city is St. Herman's in? Is it in Surrey and under Fr. Lawrence Farley? If it is, he would be a wonderful one to teach you the faith.

I am in a small mission without a resident priest (we have a priest come once a month for vespers and liturgy). At the time when I was an inquirer/catechuman, I had to study on my own. My priest would tell me what to read, and I would e-mail him with any questions I had. Since he was 3-1/2 hours away (and that was if the roads were good and not full of snow--I live in Montana), so it wasn't like we could have a class together. What I'm saying is that I'm sure that the priest could work out something.

[OrthodoxyUSA]

I'm so glad your making your move....

The best I have to offer are websites listed on my homepage....

Yours for the taking...

I had been searching for the Orthodox Church all my life, but I didn't know it was here.

So much time in research, so many stupid mistakes... much of which I am ashamed of.

If I can help, don't hesitate to ask.... but do not take my word to be authorative, only the Church herself has the true answers to your questions...

I am just a poor slave.

Forgive me....

[gzt]

I know several people who have made the move from Vineyard to Orthodoxy, it's not really that different if you think about it...

Whatever you need, ask. If you want book recommendations, we got 'em. If you have questions about liturgics, we can fake answers or tell you it varies greatly. If you have theological questions, we might have guesses. A simple suggestion is to read the lives of the saints for each day...

[WickedServant]

My priest was in the Vineyard church in San Jose, California. The whole church converted to Orthodoxy after the pastor found the Orthodox church. What city is St. Herman's in? Is it in Surrey and under Fr. Lawrence Farley? If it is, he would be a wonderful one to teach you the faith.

St.Herman's is in Langley (next to Surrey) and yes, under Fr.Lawrence (and Fr.Justin is there now as well) I think he would be a wonderful teacher to me, (and has been to me as his guest, bless him) but I have been told by Orthodox brethren that Fr.John (Victoria) is possibly more suiting as to personality similarities. I have yet to get to know him. Soon...

I am in a small mission without a resident priest (we have a priest come once a month for vespers and liturgy). At the time when I was an inquirer/catechuman, I had to study on my own. My priest would tell me what to read, and I would e-mail him with any questions I had. Since he was 3-1/2 hours away (and that was if the roads were good and not full of snow--I live in Montana), so it wasn't like we could have a class together. What I'm saying is that I'm sure that the priest could work out something.

Yes, thank you. The Nestean heresay? That was the claim that Christ was one nature, or not? In the U.S., is is not true about the parishes falling into multiple jurisdictions? Was I wrong?

Bless me

[WickedServant]

I think I know some...

Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist (or Communion?), Divine Liturgy, Holy Scripture, Icons, Clergy....

Are those right, and did I miss some? :help:

Bless me

[WickedServant]

OH! and Confession! :eek:

Bless me

[gzt]

One is holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father...

More seriously, all things can be made holy by the grace of God. We are waiting for the consummation of all things.

One parish will only be under one bishop, though I actually know of a parish in England that is under two bishops. It's actually two different parishes who share a building, it gets complicated because they're on two different calendars and it happens to be the bishop's parish, but they somehow manage to make it work. But each parish has their own bishop, and the eucharist is celebrated only on the authority of that one bishop.

[Dust and Ashes]

Our priest was just talking about the jurisdiction thing yesterday after Divine Liturgy. We are technically under Bishop Antoun but Bishop Basil has for <however long/I'm new and don't know details> been the Bishop who oversaw St. John. Bishop Antoun has said that it is fine and given his blessing for Bishop Basil to continue as he has with us.

[katherine2001]

St.Herman's is in Langley (next to Surrey) and yes, under Fr.Lawrence (and Fr.Justin is there now as well) I think he would be a wonderful teacher to me, (and has been to me as his guest, bless him) but I have been told by Orthodox brethren that Fr.John (Victoria) is possibly more suiting as to personality similarities. I have yet to get to know him. Soon...



Yes, thank you. The Nestean heresay? That was the claim that Christ was one nature, or not? In the U.S., is is not true about the parishes falling into multiple jurisdictions? Was I wrong?

Bless me

Parishes are of one jurisdiction (ours is OCA), but we also have Greek and Serbian parishes here in Montana. Two of the parishes are over 100 years old. The Serbian parish celebrated its 100th anniversary last summer. +Bishop NIKOLAI who is the OCA bishop in Alaska was raised in that parish. St. Tikhon consecrated the original church in 1904.

I would think that Fr. Farley would be a wonderful teacher. We are using his Orthodox Bible Study Companion Series (published by Conciliar) for Bible study at our mission (our Reader is leading them), and we love them. They are wonderfully written and there is so much in them. They don't cost too much, and since we get 5 copies, they are 40% off. The volume on 1 and 2 Cor. was just published and the volume on the Gospel of John will be published next. I'm especially looking forward to that one coming out. I e-mailed him this morning to let him know how much we've been enjoying the series. I got a very nice e-mail back from him.

[WickedServant]

Parishes are of one jurisdiction (ours is OCA), but we also have Greek and Serbian parishes here in Montana. Two of the parishes are over 100 years old. The Serbian parish celebrated its 100th anniversary last summer. +Bishop NIKOLAI who is the OCA bishop in Alaska was raised in that parish. St. Tikhon consecrated the original church in 1904..

Well I'm getting the idea that 2 different missions came to N.A, one through Alaska, one through (San Fran?) and so where they meet up, they have different Bishops in the same region from the two seperate missions...
alaska---> :priest: :scratch: !:priest: <---san fran

I would think that Fr. Farley would be a wonderful teacher. We are using his Orthodox Bible Study Companion Series (published by Conciliar) for Bible study at our mission (our Reader is leading them), and we love them. They are wonderfully written and there is so much in them. They don't cost too much, and since we get 5 copies, they are 40% off. The volume on 1 and 2 Cor. was just published and the volume on the Gospel of John will be published next. I'm especially looking forward to that one coming out. I e-mailed him this morning to let him know how much we've been enjoying the series. I got a very nice e-mail back from him.

Yes, he is great. I'm reading his BSCS on Romans... :clap:

Bless me